Detector unit valve construction



Aug. 9, 1960 J. CASSELL 2,948,299

I DETECTOR UNIT VALVE CONSTRUCTION Original Filed March 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.

IN V EN TOR JOSEPH L. CASSELL w v ATTORNEY FIG. IA

U ts St tes t DETECTOR UNIT VALVE CONSTRUCTION Joseph L. Cassell, New York, N.Y., assignor to Auto- 7 mat1c F1re Alarm Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New York 6 Claims. (Cl. 137-6253!) The invention herein disclosed relates to detector units used in aero tubing fire alarm systems and is particularly concerned with the valve mechanism of such systems.

The present invention is a division of that disclosed in copending patent application Serial No. 414,442, filed March 5, 1954, Patent No. 2,842,758, of July 8, 1958'.

The detector units referred to consist usually of switch mechanisms actuated by diaphragms located at the ends of the tubing, and valve mechanism for testing the tubing and the action of the diaphragms and switch mechanisms, all protected within a wall box accessible only to authorized inspectors and servicemen. Objects of the present invention are to thoroughly safeguard these parts and mechanisms, to avoid leaks at the valves and diaphragms and to assure proper handling and sequence of operations in the inspection and testing of the apparatus.

Specifically it is an object of the invention to insure that the system will be instantly put on test so as not to send in a false alarm when the box is opened, and to automatically return the system to normal operation when the box is closed, and further to make certain that the box will not be closed until the testing equipment has first been set back to normal operation.

In the accomplishment of these objects a switch for shifting from normal to test and from test back to normal operation, is provided, operable by opening and closing movements of the door, and an interlock for preventing closing of the door is provided, arranged to be held back by the test valves but only when these valves have been restored to normal operating position.

The test valves are of novel construction, free of slid- 1 ing or rotatively engaging valve parts so as to avoid wearing and leakage, and the diaphragms are mounted on one-piece bases, free of screw or plug-closed openings such as have heretofore occasioned leaks in the system.

Other novel features of the invention and further desirable objects accomplished are set forth and will ap pear in the course of the following specification.

The drawings accompanying and four-ing part of the specification illustrate a present practical embodiment of the invention. Structure, however, may be modified and new detector units showing the box opened and the auto- 2 cover stop projected and the other retracted, the same as indicated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a further enlarged broken sectional view showing one of the testvalvesturned to a testing'position, releasingthe cover stop associated therewith;

Figs. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional views of one of the test valves taken on substantially the plane of line 4-5, Fig. 2, looking in opposite directions in the two views;

Fig. 6 isa cross-sectional detail on substantially the plane of line 6- 6 of Fig. 2. r f

In the general view, Fig. 1, a wall box is indicated at 7, having a hinged cover 8 which can be secured or released by a special screw Q operable only by a Wrench key issued to authorized servicemen and inspectors.

The ends of the aero tubing 10 are shown brought into the box and connected at11 with the two test valves 12. From the back of these valves connections 13 lead to the diaphragm chambers at 14. The signal switches actuated by the diaphragms are indicated at 15.

The change-over switch for holding the system on normal signal operation when the box is closed and for automatically shifting over to testing circuit operation when the box is opened, is shown at 16 in Figs. 1 and 1a, in the form of a push-button switch mounted on the back of the box, in position to be engaged and actuated by the stud 17 projecting from the inner face of the cover. This is a spring actuated switch connected and arranged to close the normal operating circuits when the push-button is forced inwardly against the spring tension of the switch by closing of the, door, and to open these circuits and close the testing circuit or circuits when pressure on the button is released on the opening of thecover.

The stops for preventing closing of the cover until the test valves have been restored to normal operation position, are indicated at 18 in the form of slides longitudinally slotted at 19 and thereby guided over screw pins 20, 21, these slides being projected by springs 22 to extend over the edge of the box, and being held retracted by triggers or latches 23 pivoted onthe inner ends of the slides, at 24, in position to catch behind the pins 25 projecting radially from the rotatable stem portions 26 of the test valves. 7

The slide projecting springs 22 are shown connected at 27, Fig. 3, with the free ends of the triggers 23 to serve the double purpose of projecting the slides and of rocking the triggers on their pivots so that the inclined latching ends ofthese elements may pass behind the holdingpins 25 and then hold thereagainst if the valves are in the holding position, as shown at the right in Fig. 1. Stop lugs or pins 28 on the slides limit the extent of rocking movement 'of the latches or triggers 23- under pull of the springs 22.-

In the illustration the triggers, latch levers or catches 23 will engage the pins 25 to hold the slides retracted, clear of the edge of the box, only when the test valves are in the normal operating position, as shown at the right in Fig. 1. In any other position of the test valves the slides will not be held back and will project to prevent closing of the cover, as shown at the left in Fig. 1. It follows, therefore, that both test valves must be restored to normal operating position and both slides associated with those valves be forced back into the box and: caught by the retainers 25 before the cover can be closed and hence before the change-over switch will be operated by the cover to restore the system to normal operation.

The test valves are shown as made up each of a body 2 or case 29 having a cylindrical chamber 30 in the front of the same, closed over by cover 31 in which a valve stem 32 is rotatably and slidingly mounted.

Three ports are entered in the back of the chamber 30, one designated 33 connected with the end of the a 3 aero tube 10, a second one, the tube connection 13, and the third, 35, connected with the test spout or nozzle 36 on the side of the valve casing. g V v I These ports are equally spaced in respect to the center of rotation of the valve stem and are each surrounded by a small circular -ring 37. A limp diaphragm 38 overlies these three ports and is held sealed at its rim against a larger O-ring 39 by a clamping ring 40 secured in the chamber by the cover.

The diaphragm 38 is pressed into engagement with any one of the three port sealing rings 37 by a circular pad 41 of slightly larger size than these O-rings, on the end of a radial arm 42 at the inner end of the valve stem A spring 43 about the inner end of the valve stem and between the radial arm 42 and the inner face of the cover, serves to hold the valve stem inwardly with the pad 41 pressing the diaphragm firmly over the O-ring surrounding the valve port with which the radial arm is aligned and which, in Fig. 2, is the port 35 leading to the test spout 36. Hence in this particular situation the test spout is closed off and the other two ports are open, providing free communication between the end of the aero tube and the tubing extending to the switch actuating diaphragm.

Convenient operation of the test valves is aiforded by 34, providing entrance to' base plate 55, at 57, and a pointed contact screw 58 adjustably secured in an arched bracket 59 mounted on the base.

The free end of contact spring 56 is engaged at the inner side by the stem of a plunger 60 operating freely in a guide 61 and having anarched head 62 engaging the center of the diaphragm and normally holding it pressed upward, closing the central passage 53in the roof of the chamber. V

In this construction, with the diaphragm chambers normally closed, the aero tubing is kept in amore sensitive state since there are no cushions of air at the ends of the tubing to absorb the effects of expansion of air in the tubing. The diaphragms are therefore ready to rings 44- engaged with the head portions 26 of the valve stems. Figs. 2. shows how the spring 43 holds the valve stem inwardly with the pad at the inner end of the same pressed solidly over a valve port seal and with an index ing socket 45 on the head engaged over an indexing pin 46 on the cover.

In this particular illustration three indexing sockets 45 are provided in the head to locate and hold the valve stem in position with the pad closing one of the three ports in the valve casing.

To unlock and turn the valve stem to any other position, it is necessary to first pull out the valve stem sufficiently to disengage the indexing elements 45, 46. This movement withdraws the pad from engagement with the diaphragm. The stem may then be turned to any one of the other valve positions and again be locked by engagement of the indexing elements at that location.

Thus the test valves are locked in each of the test or operating positions and cannot be turned until they are pulled outward and unlocked by disengagement of the indexing detents. When turned to a new location the valve closing action will be a straight line movement closing the diaphragm over the valve port O-ring.

With this construction, therefore, the valve is closed leak-tight in each position and the change from one position'to another is effected without rubbing or wiping engagement of valve parts.

The rings 44 afford proper grip of the fingers for the pulling and turning valve movements and for indexing the valve from one position to another.

To avoid the possibility of leakage at the Working diaphragms, the base structure for such diaphragms is shown as consisting in each case of a single disc 47 having an integral rib or ridge 48 across the top of the same, the lower face of the disc being concaved at 49 to form the arched roof of the diaphragm chamber and the ridge portion being bored in through the front end, at 50, to take the pressure compensating leak 51, and bored down from the top at the opposite end, at 52, to receive the pressure connection 13, and bored up from the bottom, at 53, into the cross channel 50 to admit pressure to the diaphragm.

The diaphragm 54, preferably of limp material, is shown clamped airtight against the rim of the base members by an annular member 55 of insulating material, to form the insulating base for the switch contacts.

In the illustration the switch contacts are shown provided by a return bent spring 56 secured to the insulating act to close the switches immediately upon expansion of air in the tubing caused by sudden rise of temperature.

The test valves illustrated provide for all the usual or special testing of the equipment and they can be relied upon to maintain leakproof conditions, since there is no wearing of the valve parts. Similarly, the switch actuating diaphragms can be relied upon to maintain their sensitive and airtight condition.

The automatic change-over switch and the interlock between the door stops and test valves assures that upon opening the door the system will be switched over from normal to test and that the door may not again be closed until the test valves have been restored to normal operating position.

What is claimed is:

1. A test valve for an aero detector unit, comprising a valve body having a chamber with ports opening thereinto and in communication with said valve chamber through one of the chamber walls and grouped about a central axis, O-rings about said ports, a larger O-ring encircling all of said ports, a diaphragm loosely covering said ports and secured in sealed engagement with the encircling O-ring, a valve stem rotatably mounted on said axis and slidable toward and away from said diaphragm, said diaphragm being interposed between said valve stem and said chamber ports, a pad carried by the inner end of said valve stem and positioned to press the diaphragm against any one of the smaller O-rings surrounding the valve ports, a spring for holding the valve stem thrust toward the diaphragm and a handle for pulling the valve stem outward and for rotating the same to thereby withdnaw the pad from holding engagement with the diaphragm over one of the port surrounding O-rings and to carry it into position for engagement with the diaphragm over one of the other of said port surrounding O-rings, a member controlling operation of said aero detector unit shiftable from unit operative to unit inoperative position, means urging said shiftable member from unit operative to unit inoperative positipn and means carried by said valve stem for holding said member in the unit operative position and for releasing said member on said outward movement preparatory to rotary movement of the valve stem.

2. A test valve for an aero detector unit, comprising a valve body having a chamber with ports openingthereinto and in communication with said valve chamber through one of the chamber walls and grouped about a central axis, O-rings about said ports, a larger O-ring encircling all of said ports, a diaphragm loosely covering said ports and secured in sealed engagement with the encircling O-ring, a valve stem rotatably mounted on said axis and slidable toward and away from said diaphragm, said diaphragm being interposed between said valve stem and said chamber ports, a pad carried by the inner end of said valve'stem and positioned to press the diaphragm against any one of the smaller O-rings surrounding the valve ports, a spring for holding the valve stem thrust toward the diaphragm and a handle for pulling the valve stem outward and for rotating the same to thereby withdraw the pad from holding engagement with the diaphragm over one. of the port surrounding 5 O-rings and to carry it into position for engagement with the diaphragm over one of the other of said port surrounding O-nings, and indexing means engageable to hold the valve stem with the pad positioned over said ports and releasable to permit turning of the valve stem in said sliding movement of the valve stem, including pin and socket engaging members on the valve body and valve stem extended longitudinally of the valve stem and thereby requiring sliding movement of said valve stem away from the diaphragm before said valve stem may be turned rotatably to engage the diaphragm holding pad over different port surrounding O-rings.

3. A test valve for an acre detector unit, comprising a valve body having a chamber with ports opening thereinto and in communication with said valve chamber through one of the chamber walls and grouped about a central axis, -rings about said ports,a larger O-ring encircling all of said ports, a diaphragm loosely covering said ports and secured in sealed engagement with the encircling O-ring, a valve stem rotatably mounted on said axis and slidable toward and away from said diaphragm, said diaphragm being interposed between said valve stem and said chamber ports, a pad carried by the inner end of said valve stem and positioned to press the diaphragm against any one of the smaller O-nings surrounding the valve ports, a spring for holding the valve stem thrust toward the diaphragm and a handle for pulling the valve stem outward and for rotating the same to thereby withdraw the pad from holding engagement with the diaphragm over one of the port surrounding O-r ings and to carry it into position for engagement with the diaphragm over one of the other of said port surrounding O-nings, a shiftable control member mounted adjacent said valve stem and latch mechanism for holding said control member when said valve stem is in one position and including engaging parts on said control member and valve stem releasable from each other by sliding movement of said valve stem.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 766,420 Calley Aug. 2, 1904 828,086 Bowers Aug. 7, 1906 2,519,448 Fairchild Aug. 22, 1950 2,601,989 Modes July 1, 1952 2,655,573 Szwargulski et al. Oct. 13, 1953 2,712,576 Gibson July 5, 1955 2,856,148 Heathcote Oct. 14, 1958 2,878,829 Folmsbee Mar. 24, 1959 2,888,952 Klaren June 2, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 511,989 Fnance Oct. 2, 1920 42,225 Denmark May 2, 1930 978,613 France Nov. 29, 1950 

